3 motivations to reset your morning routine this September

Now that Labor Day Weekend is over, we’re officially back to the real world: This means cutting out your pesky snooze-button habit, stepping out of your all-day PJ uniform (unless you’re Victoria Beckham), and swapping your Cap’n Crunch bowl for a healthy turmeric latte mug.  It’s time to reset, and that means you might have to set your alarm a bit earlier.

There are many benefits to being a morning person: You make better decisions, are more accurate, and position your entire day for success. But, that’s really only the beginning of what getting up early does for your body and mind. Here’s ample motivation for officially throwing in the towel on your night-owl status.

Set your alarm an hour or two earlier to reap these 3 benefits.

1. You’ll have more energy—and be extra creative because of it

Hate when that 3 p.m. slump rolls around? Being a morning person means you’ll stay energized all throughout the day—with or without coffee—making you more successful at your job andyour workout.

“Even if you didn’t sleep great but enough, you probably have much more mental energy to willfully refocus and let things go that don’t matter,” Josh Davis, author of Two Awesome Hours: Science-Based Strategies to Harness Your Best Time and Get Your Most Important Work Done, told Fast Company. “You can think creatively and have more capacity to use your prefrontal cortex instead of being on autopilot.”

2. You can have a few hours to yourself, no decision-making required

The best thing about mornings is that you’re not expected to do any big thinking until regular business hours begin. Because of that, those early hours are for you and no one else—and you don’t have to answer to anyone during them.

“There’s an unwritten agreement that you’re not responsible for being reactive until 9 a.m. or even 10 a.m. You don’t have to do the things that drain mental energy, like making a lot of small decisions,” Davis said. “Should I address this email now? Should I include this person? Could what I’m saying be taken as offensive? In the morning, we’re free from that.”

More time for smoothies, less time for emails? Sounds like a perfect start to the day.

3. You can enjoy stillness before the rest of the world wakes up

There’s something magical about those hours before everyone else gets up for the day. Instead of jumping out of bed and rushing straight to work, take some time away from your desk—and all the distractions that come with it.

“Our desks often hold the things we need to do for ourselves or for someone else. They grab your attention and are mentally taxing to think about because of their importance to us. This sabotages your ability to focus,” Davis said. “Noise makes it harder to do the deep cognitive work most knowledge workers need to do. In the morning you’re free to work from anywhere, and you can find a quiet, beautiful spot. A quiet workspace helps you be more productive because it’s like working with tailwinds.”

But, if you do need to be stationed at your desk bright and early, there are ways to de-stress and keep the experience as Zen as possible

These morning habits will make you feel like a true badass. And while you’re at it, try out these healthy swaps that will supercharge your day before you even leave for work.